We said...

This is a great suggestion and we completely understand why parents would like to see exactly what skills their child is working towards.

The skills required at each level of the TURBO Awards are already published and can be viewed by parents through the AAAsports App, allowing you to see the skills your child is progressing towards.

While we appreciate the idea of step-by-step skill cards, this isn’t something we would produce as it could encourage parents to try and coach skills outside of the Class environment. These skills are designed to be taught by qualified Coaches in a controlled setting, and attempting to teach them without the appropriate training could increase the risk of injury.

Our entire progression pathway within Classes is designed to safely develop the skills required for the award scheme. Each activity and station helps Members build the strength, coordination, and technique needed to achieve the next level.

If a Member would like some additional time to practise specific skills ahead of the next TURBO week, we do offer 1-2-1 Classes, where a Coach can work with them on any areas they would like to develop further.

We said...

Thank you for the suggestion.

At the moment, our system applies charges to all AAAsports accounts on the 16th of each month for the following month’s Classes. These are then automatically collected on the 15th of the following month.

While it isn’t currently possible to set individual payment dates for each Member, you can make a manual payment at any time through your AAAsports account once the charges have been added.

For example, if you are paid on the 1st of the month, you can simply log in after you have been paid and make the payment manually. If the balance has already been paid, the automatic payment on the 15th will not be taken.

This option allows Members to effectively align payments with their payday if they wish to do so.

We appreciate the feedback and will continue reviewing suggestions that help make managing memberships as easy as possible.

We said...

Thank you for raising this.

We are aware that the waiting area can become very busy at certain times, particularly during peak periods when multiple Classes are finishing and starting close together.

Classes are timed so that Members can enter shortly before the previous Class exits. However, in practice some families choose not to go into the gym straight away, which can mean people remain in the waiting area longer than intended and this can add to the congestion.

We are also aware that the storage cubes can become very full during busy periods. We are currently looking at installing some additional cubes to help with this. Unfortunately, one of the ongoing challenges we face is that we are restricted by the physical size of the building, so there are limits to how much space we can create within the existing layout.

In relation to seating, we unfortunately cannot guarantee seats for everyone. Members who are under 7 years old require a parent or guardian to remain in the building during their Class, so these parents must take priority for the available seating. There are currently around 36 seats available, which broadly aligns with the number of Members who may be in Classes at the same time, meaning there should generally be enough seating for one parent or guardian per Member.

However, when more than one parent or family member chooses to stay and watch, this naturally has a knock-on effect and can mean there are not enough seats available for others. With the space we have available, we unfortunately cannot provide unlimited seating.

Regarding the suggestion of introducing a gap between Classes, this would mean that Class durations would need to be reduced to accommodate the additional transition time. For example, a 5-minute gap between Classes would likely require Classes to reduce from 60 minutes to around 55 minutes in order to maintain the overall timetable. This is something we suspect many Members and parents may not welcome as it reduces training time, but we are open to reviewing this if there was a clear preference from the wider community.

We appreciate the feedback and will continue to review how we manage busy changeover periods while working within the space available in the building.

We said...

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback - it’s really appreciated.

We’re really pleased to hear that the additional competition feedback included in the evaluations has been helpful. We introduced this as a way of giving Members and families a clearer understanding of how routines are scoring and where squads can continue to develop. We’ll continue to monitor feedback from the wider Cheer Membership to see whether this is something we keep as a regular part of the evaluations going forward.

We’re always looking at ways to expand and improve the opportunities available to our Members, but we only have a finite amount of time, space and coaching hours available across the week. In terms of extending routine class time, any additional classes or training hours would need to be charged for separately, and as you’ve highlighted, this creates a challenging position as we understand that not all of our families are able to dedicate the time and finances to additional hours on a regular basis.

As our programme continues to grow, we will continue to look for opportunities for all Members at a suitable commitment level for everyone but in the short term, you may have already seen that we’ve introduced our new Cheer Skills class every Saturday which is designed to help Members work on specific elements to improve their overall performances. This class is currently optional and priced at just £19.99, allowing those Members who are able to attend the chance to develop further both for this and future seasons!

Thank you again for your feedback and support.

We said…

Thank you to everyone who shared this suggestion. We completely understand the thinking behind it, and we know how much our Members enjoy working on their routines and developing their skills.

At the moment, unfortunately we simply don’t have enough free space in the gym timetable to extend the routine classes. Our programme already operates very close to full capacity across the week, and increasing routine class times would require additional gym availability that we currently don’t have.

Alongside this, extending the classes would also require additional coaching hours. With the number of squads and classes running each week, increasing routine training time would have a significant knock-on effect on staffing and the overall programme structure.

Another important consideration is the impact on families. Increasing the length of routine classes would mean increasing the cost of those classes, and we know that not all families would be able to commit to additional weekly time or increased fees. It’s important to us that squad participation remains accessible to as many Members as possible.

For Members who would like additional opportunities to work on their skills, we have introduced the Cheer Skills Class on Saturdays. This provides a chance to spend extra time developing key elements that support routine performance, while keeping it optional for families who are able to attend.

We’ll continue to review the programme as AAAsports grows, and if opportunities arise in the future to expand training time without negatively impacting families or the wider programme, we’ll certainly look at them. Thank you again to everyone who took the time to share their feedback.

We said...

Thank you for your message, and firstly for the lovely feedback about Millie and the Coaches. We will absolutely pass that on — it’s always appreciated.

We completely understand that the financial commitment involved in Squad can feel significant, particularly when you are managing everything as a single parent. Competitive cheer does require a higher level of commitment than recreational Classes, and we recognise that this can be challenging at times.

In relation to kit, full uniform changes are not an annual occurrence. Major updates typically happen every few years. This season felt more noticeable as the previous tracksuit requirement was replaced with the new cheer jacket. Families were advised in August not to purchase the tracksuit once the upcoming change was confirmed.

The new jackets were introduced to better reflect the style and presentation expected within competitive cheerleading. They are designed specifically for cheer, with the sparkle and team branding that aligns with competition environments, rather than the more traditional tracksuit style typically seen in gymnastics and trampoline disciplines. The feedback from Members collecting them this week ahead of competition has been very positive.

That said, we do understand that any new kit item represents an additional cost, and we appreciate that this can feel frustrating when commitments fall close together.

Regarding competitions, the number of away events this season has remained in line with last year, with only one additional local competition added. Competition commitments and expected events are outlined prior to joining Squad so families can make an informed decision about the level of involvement. Reducing competitions would impact routine development, team progression and overall competitive experience, and at present the number is unlikely to decrease.

We do try to structure payments across the season to avoid large one-off amounts where possible. While part payments are now available online, families are also able to pay in advance and hold credit on their account if that helps with monthly budgeting.

We genuinely appreciate you raising this. If you would ever like to speak directly about your individual circumstances, please do feel free to get in touch.

We said...

Thank you for raising this.

We do recognise that Class changeover times can feel busy, particularly during peak periods when multiple Classes are finishing and starting within short timeframes.

Introducing a 5–10 minute gap between every session unfortunately is not operationally feasible. It would reduce the effective training time for every Class, significantly impact the number of Classes we can deliver each day, and create a knock-on effect across the full timetable. Reducing Classes from 60 minutes to 55 minutes would directly affect programme delivery, progression and overall capacity.

The size and layout of the building also mean that a full staggered exit and delayed entry system would be difficult to manage safely in practice. Holding the next Class in the doorway while previous Members are exiting would likely create congestion in different areas rather than removing it.

That said, we absolutely agree that safe and orderly changeovers are important.

We will be reminding parents and carers of the importance of:

• Allowing exiting Members and families to leave first

• Keeping walkways clear

• Avoiding gathering directly in access routes

• Supporting younger Members in identifying their collection point

Coaches are also instructed to support smooth dispersal at the end of Classes and encourage Members to move promptly and safely into the waiting area.

We continually review how we manage peak transition times and are exploring practical adjustments that can improve flow without impacting training time.

We appreciate the feedback and will continue working to ensure changeovers remain safe and well managed.

We said...

Thank you for the ideas — we really appreciate the creativity behind them.

We are aware that, after years of heavy use and high footfall, parts of the centre are starting to look a little tired. With the volume of Members we have coming through each week, wear and tear is inevitable. Refreshing and improving the environment is something we take seriously and is part of our ongoing planning.

Suggestions around wall graphics, colour and stronger visual identity are helpful and align with the kind of improvements we consider as part of future updates. We want the centre to feel energetic, modern and something our Members are proud of.

In terms of food and drink ideas, we regularly review what is practical within the space and operationally manageable, particularly around seasonal items. We’ll certainly keep these suggestions in mind as we look at future options.

We are also continually expanding and refreshing our merchandise range. New items are being introduced gradually, and ideas such as caps and additional outerwear are useful as we shape future collections.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts. We value constructive feedback and are always working to improve the experience for our Members.

We said...

Thank you for your feedback.

We understand that it can feel cold during the winter for parents who choose to stay and watch. Due to the design of the building, the waiting area and main hall are open to each other, which makes it very difficult to effectively heat one space independently of the other.

When the main heaters are left on for extended periods, Members and Coaches who are actively training often become too warm and request that the heating is reduced. We therefore have to balance the comfort of those participating in Classes with those seated in the viewing area.

Hot drinks are available to purchase from the coffee machine in reception during colder months, and we are continuing to look at practical ways to improve comfort in the waiting area going forward.

In relation to event and competition payments, we recognise that families are paid on different dates and may prefer to spread the cost. In response to feedback, we have now enabled partial payments via Members’ online AAAsports accounts and the AAAsports App. This allows families to make smaller payments over time, provided the full balance is cleared by the stated payment deadline.

We appreciate feedback and will always review suggestions where they are operationally workable.

We said...

Thank you for raising this. We completely understand why, as a parent, you would want reassurance around access to the building.

During our busiest periods we can have over 150 Members and parents arriving and leaving across different Classes within short time windows. Operating a strict “lock and buzzer only” system during these peak periods would unfortunately cause significant congestion at the entrance, delays to Classes starting, and potential safeguarding issues created by large groups gathering outside.

It would also not be practical or proportionate for Coaches to attempt to individually identify every parent or carer entering. Families change week to week, grandparents or other carers may attend, and with the volume of Members we have, it would not be realistic for Coaches to personally recognise every adult.

That said, access is risk-assessed based on activity level and footfall:

• During quieter times and later evening Classes, the doors are locked and access is controlled.

• During events such as Fun Days doors are also locked and monitored.

The building is fully covered by CCTV across outside areas, entrances, corridors and communal spaces. Footage is recorded in line with our policy and, at regular intervals throughout the day, is also monitored live by members of the management team. This includes the main entrance and surrounding access areas, allowing us to respond quickly if required.

In addition:

• Coaches are positioned within the gym and reception area during busy changeovers.

• The toilet areas are in communal monitored spaces rather than isolated zones.

• We operate clear supervision procedures in line with safeguarding guidance and Duty of Care expectations.

Safeguarding is about layered protection rather than a single measure. Controlled access at certain times, CCTV monitoring, staff visibility, open training environments and clear supervision procedures all work together to reduce risk.

We absolutely take building security seriously and continually review procedures to ensure they are proportionate, practical and effective for the size and nature of our operation.

If you would like to discuss this further, we are always happy to talk through the arrangements in more detail.

We said...

We completely understand the importance of keeping all children safe and respecting everyone’s privacy during Classes.

We have now added a clear on-screen reminder across our venue screens stating that photography and filming during Classes is not permitted.

This aligns with our safeguarding and photography policies, which are in place to protect all Members and ensure a safe environment for everyone.

Our Team will actively challenge anyone seen taking photos or filming, or where this is reported to us. If you ever notice something, please let a member of staff know immediately so we can address it straight away.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and we appreciate your support in helping us maintain a secure and respectful environment for all Members.